The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2017-2018 season

Sounds like a format for a new type of ‘Enduro’ … oh hang on a minute..

Click me!!

Or, see my post above. 🙂

Or, see my post above

Note to self … “must pay more attention to CFH’s posts … ” 😉

Would you risk Ischgl or St Anton this early in season?

Never been, but I recall a friend taking his family to Ischgl for Christmas a couple of years ago when there was very little snow anywhere. He said it wasn’t great but they did ski every day….which I was really surprised to hear.

I should think so too, Digby!

🙂

Ecky-Thump – We’ve been to Austria the last 3 Christmases. All three of those have had pretty poor natural snow across most of the Alps. 1st year we went to the Skiwelt – it was pretty poor and when it did snow during that week they didn’t open up any more of the area for “avalanche safety” or as we suspected preparing and sandbagging the rest of the area for the much busier New Year week.

Then we went to Wagrain (Ski Amade). It was excellent. The lift system is modern and so is the snow making, everything was open. It’s linked to St Johann and Flachau and a short bus ride to Kleinarl which is linked to Flachauwinkl and Zauchensee.

Last Christmas we went to Hinterglemm. The area is even more advanced than Ski Amade. The pistes were covered well and everywhere was open.

My point is that snow making is probably just as important (or more important) than being high – there were lots of places much higher than where we’ve been over the last two years who struggled to open up anything. Obviously it has to have been cold for them to be able to snow…

BTW – I’m in Saalbach at the moment. If there really is no snow the mountain biking is excellent!

We did Bad Gastein at Xmas a few years ago. Had a bloody great time. Skied to 2pm on New year’s Eve in a couple of feet of fresh snow then flew home. Fantastic

Point to remember is that the temperature needs to be below zero for snowmaking to work. Skiwelt is awesome but I’d still be thinking snow sure (not necessarily high) plus extensive snow making.

If you’re a gambler and not fussy hold on and book near the time but expect to go to 3 valleys, val d etc

Grahamt1980

We (4 adults 2 toddlers) stayed in La Tania last week of January.

I was dubious as it was the lowest part but the wife’s liked the child care (more info if requested).

I shouldn’t have worried.

Easy access to the 3 valleys. Val thorens and back by mid afternoon. Really nice tree lined home runs which, because la tania is end of the line, are quiet at the end of the day. The up lift first thing is maybe a 10min que but nothing after that.

The resort itself is prettier than most but still suffers from what I call gorbals architecture. There are some nice places to eat but only really one apre bar. The bus is free to merebil and courcheval but I think it runs quite late and is only 10 min.

Christmas skiing appears to be pot luck, really!

Had it one year at Sauze, so not at massive altitude. We arrrived on 23rd(ish) to not a lot of snow. End of the first day (or second, I forget!) it started snowing. Hard. Rest of the week was deep and fresh.

I’m just catching up, but ….

CFH:

They do go to Les Arcs, though

Hands off, it’s MINE!

😉

hammerite, thanks for the recommendations.
We know Skiwelt well but really wouldn’t risk it there early season if booking ahead.
Yes, we’ve done Ski Armade area early in the season before and been lucky like you. It’s a thought.
Not done Saalback/Hinterglemm – will check it out. Thanks for that.

*not so stealth ad*

Have you bought new skis this season? Do you like to play in the powder? Are you worried about losing them? Would you like to buy my ResQSki pack?

🙂

Just spotted this over on the other side;
What was the first ski lift you went on?

Seemed a good topic for here as well!

For me, it was the dry slope at Gloucester.

Ran up and down to the first “turning” for an afternoon of falling over. Loved it, though!

Christchurch Ski Centre!

Hated it!

Ta for the info on la tania.
Turns out because of the group size and the fact we have a 2 year old it has been fun finding an appropriate chalet, looks like we have settled on la plagne now.
Going to book over the weekend and Def going to have a go on the bobsleigh run out there

The ski tow at Sirdal skisenter in Norway near Stavanger.

What was the first ski lift you went on?

Seemed a good topic for here as well!

SSV … gone … burned (quite a few times) … but not forgotten.

Once caught the ‘little fella’ whilst riding the button lift … 😳

Grahamt1980 – check SkiFamille first. Not cheap, but bang on for what it sounds like your after.

They do a few resorts.

What was the first ski lift you went on?

T-bar at Cairngorm. Day Lodge maybe? It went downhill at one point. I was on a board. 😯

First lift – Aviemore, but I think I spent most of the time falling over followed the next year by ….. Serre Chevalier (just for you CFH)

Halifax dry ski slope with Bradford Uni Ski Club in 1990

First lift on snow would have been Borovets in 1997: the gondola up the mountain and the drag along the ridge. I’ve got a pic but can’t find a version online at the moment

Kids lift in Livignio, (1980) wore through my C&A salopettes sliding on my arse. It’s tax free there so was cheaper to buy skis and boots than hire.

Bassingbourn rope tow for me. Somehow ended up in the middle of the thing and then didn’t ever go back.

Hillend.

The lift I have used most, is probably the one in in CFH’s photo.

Borovets, Bulgaria.

Went with a group of friends and friends of friends so there was a bit of getting to know half the people. Checked into the hotel from the Shining and went to our rooms then back to the bar. Having the how’s your room chat and the answers are dowdy, it’s somewhere to sleep etc. Someone asks does your telly work? Leads to did you find the porn? Where’s Richard? Still up there – it’s proper hardcore and he loves it.

Any recommendations for a week in Italy in late January. Mainly skiing on piste intermediate level. No need for family friendly or rowdy speed…?

Bloody autocorrect, apres not speed

First lift was at Rossendale dry slope. Getting off was an interesting experience.

The third time I went, a chap came down the slope with his stick sticking straight out in front. He was gathering speed and managed to knock me out near the base. My friend’s brought me round and luckily I was only ‘out’ for seconds. Not a pleasant experience. The chap was banned if I remember correctly.
During another visit a young chap came careering down the slope, through the flimsy netting, landing in the carpark just below. 😯

They’re looking into snowmaking equipment that can work in +3c in Ski Amadé apparently, at the moment it has to be -3c. Not sure if/when it will happen.

Italy: I wasn’t particularly impressed with Cormayeur, liked Bormio though, although a bugger to get to. Having a car in both places is good though as there are some great options on the same ski pass nearby.

First lift – the magic carpet at Xscape MK, then Poma at the same venue.
On real snow – one of the Poma lifts near Les Bergers in AdH.

Any recommendations for a week in Italy in late January.

The Selle Ronda area is a nice place – Colfosco / Corvara.

Odd, I thought I’d replied suggesting Courmayeur. I’ve had a weekend and two weeks there, really like it. Mrs NBT wants to go back. Rockape63 doesn’t seem to like it which I can understand, but each to their own

Any recommendations for a week in Italy in late January. Mainly skiing on piste intermediate level. No need for family friendly or rowdy speed…?

What about somewhere 15k or so over the border?

8)

The Monte Rosa areas north of Turin is extensive and good for intermediates

CaptainFlashheart – Member
Any recommendations for a week in Italy in late January. Mainly skiing on piste intermediate level. No need for family friendly or rowdy speed…?
What about somewhere 15k or so over the border?

What were you thinking Flashy – although the wife has been heavily researching Val Claret so the choice may no longer be mine 🙄

Belle plagne booked for a week in Feb. Nice and high so should be ok for snow

So does it translate as knight’s greenhouse Flashy?